An 82-year-old woman who mistakenly drank bleach instead of her prescribed medicine may not have been able to tell the difference because she was unable to read English, an inquest heard.
Mother-of-seven Tej Nanray’s organs shut down one by one after she mistakenly consumed the household chemical at her home in Hearnville Road, Balham, Westminister Coroner’s Court was told on Tuesday, July 14.
The Indian national, who came to the UK in 1968 but never learned to read or write in English, had a history of taking the wrong medicine and, as a result, had received treatment on several occasions at St George’s Hospital.
But on February 15, at about 8am, Mrs Nanray swallowed “either a capful or a cupful” of the toxic liquid which contains sulphuric acid.
However, it wasn’t until about 11am that she complained of burning in her throat.
She told members of her family what had happened and an ambulance was called just before midday.
Despite horrific burns to her oesophagus, or gullet, Mrs Nanray recovered and was eventually discharged on February 24.
Coroner Dr Paul Knapman said: “She was 82 so it’s hardly surprising that she came into difficulty. She was also a diabetic and this may have tipped the balance.”
A later examination revealed scarring and a narrowing of the throat which made eating difficult for Mrs Nanray.
However, the chemical had begun to cause irrepairable damage to other parts of her body and Mrs Nanray’s organs failed one by one.
First her lungs filled with liquid, causing breathing problems, and then her kidneys gradually stopped functioning. She eventually died on June 1.
Dr Knapman: “By mistake she swallowed this caustic substance. She initially got better, but her oesophagus narrowed and her throat and stomach were not able to function properly meaning she couldn’t eat.
“Doctors tried to dilate her throat so she could eat, but she deteriorated and died.
"I therefore say that Tej Nanray died from multiple organ failure after swallowing drain cleaner and record a verdict of accidental death.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here